Burlington mom charged with attempted murder

A 32-year-old Burlington mother has been charged with the attempted murder of her teenage daughter after her younger daughter summoned police by calling 911.

Around 8:35 p.m. Tuesday, a girl came flying out of an 11th-floor apartment at 5220 Lakeshore Rd., screaming into a phone that her older sister had been stabbed.

A neighbour on the floor heard the commotion and went out into the hallway, frantically dialing 911 on his own phone. He'd heard arguing coming from the unit earlier in the night, but didn't know what was going on.

Minutes later, the neighbour — who asked his name not be published — said a girl he identified as the older sister, who is 13, ran out of the unit toward the fire escape at the end of the hall. She had been stabbed in the stomach.

The teen was crying and her face was bloody as she was taken out on a stretcher when emergency crews arrived a short time later, he said.

The panicked younger girl, who neighbours say is eight years old, sought refuge with a woman in an apartment across the hall as police rushed into the family's apartment.

That woman also asked to remain nameless, but called the incident "tragic, just a nightmare."

Tenants on the floor were asked to wait in the lobby while police attempted to arrest the mother, a standoff neighbours said lasted for hours.

Police spokesperson Dave Cross wouldn't comment on the standoff.

He confirmed the woman was arrested at 11:08 p.m., more than two hours after they were called.

When she was led out in handcuffs, the male neighbour said she looked "wasted."

Residents in the building had past issues with her, he said, describing her as a "ticking time bomb."

"I'm not sorry to see her go, but I'm sorry that her kids have to suffer through this," he said.

Police said Wednesday evening that the teen was in stable condition in hospital. The neighbour who took in the 8-year-old during the incident said she believes the girl is now with her father.

The mother, charged with attempted murder, has been remanded into custody until Friday, when she will appear in Milton court.

Police refused to release the names of anyone involved.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Burlington Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2315, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting Tip201 with your message to 274637 (crimes).